Envelope machine



Sept. 3, 1946.

J. L..QBERE'NDER` ENEVELOPE MACHINE Filed 8. 1611 23, 1944 sheetsfsheet1 Sept. 3, 1946. J. OBERENDER A ENEvELoPE MACHINE 2 sheets-shear 2 FiledMarch 2s, 1944 Sv. 4 5w.

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Patented Sept. 3, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT `FFICE ENVELOPE MACHINE JohnL. Oberender, Baltimore, Md., assignor to Oles Envelope Corporation,Baltimore, Md., a corporation of `Maryland Application March Z3, 1944,Serial No. 527,755

11 Claims.

successive folding or other` operations are illus-A trated by the patentto Goss Re. 18,463 dated May 17, 1932.

Among the objects of the instant invention are to make a turning devicewhich will be positive in operation and which will impart the preciselyrequired turn to the sheet or envelope whether it be 90 or substantiallyany other arcof aA circle that might be desired. Other objects are tomake such a device that may be adjusted for any size of envelope orsheet and that will accommodate Another Objectis to make a turningdevice which will not lose its adjustment regardless of the period of'its operation after once being placed in proper adjustment. to provide aturning section which continuously forwards the sheets during theturning and which may be timed to receive the sheets from the precedingoperation of the complete machine and pass them on to that machineintimed'rel'ation for the next following operation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description :and the accompanying drawings in which FigureFigure 2 shows 1 shows a plan view of the device. a cross-sectional viewsubstantially on line 2-2 of Figure 1.V Figure 3 is an invertedsectional View ofthe gear train.

In the drawings similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views.

Envelopes are received from a folding machine after having been foldedVon two edges as illustrated in dotted lines by the envelope I. Thecarrier belts of the envelope `machine such as those at I2 in the abovepatent to Goss are shown at 2. These delivery belts 2 pass the envelopesbetween them in the direction shown by the arrow in Figure 2 between thehorizontally mounted plates 3, the upper plates 3 beingV supported byrods 4 projecting from the sides 5 ofthe machine, the lower plates 3 aresupported from the bottom part of the machine. 'I'hese plates. maintainthe envelopey in its folded condition. The plates3'. are

Another object of the invention is their speed differential.

divided, or spaced, substantially at their center longitudinally of themachine and beneaththis space belt E passes to continue the forwardmovement of the envelope'. The belt 6 is held up by rolls 1, and isheldtaut by roll 8. Longitudinally adjustable rolls 9 bear upon theupper face of the "envelopes to hold them in frictional contact with thebelt 6 to insure their continued forward movement. The brackets Inholding rolls 9 are adjustable on rod I I which is pivoted to shaft I2mounted in the sides of the' machine.

The turning mechanism proper consists of the tworolls I3 and I4. Bymeans of the gear train shown in Figure 3 roll I3 is driven at a surfacespeed four times that of roll I4. Roll I3 l is mounted onf shaft I5androll I4 on hollow shaft from the folding machine to the foldingmachine so that they will be received and delivered in timed relationwith the other mechanisms of the folding machine.

Rolls 23 mounted in brackets 24 bear upon the sheet or envelope :as itpasses over rolls I3 and I4. These rolls 23 are held in frictionalengagement with the envelopes by springs 25. Brackets 24 are laterallyadjustable on shaft I2 and the location of their lateral adjustmentdetermines the angle of turn given the envelopes as they pass over rollsI3 and I4. There is slippage between both turning rolls and theenvelopes, rolls 23 forming as it were pivot pointsholding the envelopein contact with the two turning rolls at the desired points so that theywill give the desired degree of turn to the envelopes due to Lateralmovement of rolls 23 varies the location of the pivot points on theenvelopes and consequently the points where they are gripped by theturning rolls and consequently the degree of turn given the envelopes. Apartially turned envelope is shown at 26 in Figure 1.

Belt 6 passes between rolls I3 and I 4 so that it does not interferewith the turning operation. Beyond the rolls I3 and I4 are similarplates 3 to receive the envelope and continue to maintain it in itsfolded condition. Belt 6 now again sup- Ported. by: rolls I continuesthe forward movement of the envelope, rolls 1 are omitted betweenl 34driven from the receiving part of the folding machine proper.

Squaring up means or truing ngers .35 are mounted in brackets 36 fast toshaft 31.. Rocker arm 38 bearing on cam 39 raise the lingersperiodically from the path of the envelopes to allow their passagetherebeyond.

Chains 34 on which are the pins 33 withdrawing the envelope in timedrelation from thetruing mechanism, feed itv to the next folding or otheroperation of the envelope machine in a manner similar to chains 4| inthe above designated patent of Goss. Cam 39 is driven by sprocket 40 andcam 32 is driven by sprocket di and both sprockets 50 and 4| are drivenby chain l2 passing over sprockets 43 and 44 and under sprocket 45 inthe gear train shown in Figure 3 so that the cams are driven in timedrelation' with the turning device which is, as stated, driven in timedrelation with the other parts of the folding machine. S

Shafts 3G and 3'! and their rocking mechanism, are mounted in brackets46 and which are adjustable lengthwise of the machine, so that it may beaccommodated to envelopes of dilerent sizes. The position of thesprockets at the ends of chains 34 may likewise be moved to accommodatethe machine to different sized envelopes.

With envelopes of different sizes it may be desirable to double thespeed of this squaring up device and to accomplish that purpose clustergear 48 is keyed to shaft i9 and has large gear 53. Gear is shown inmesh with gear 52 fast to shaft 2). This drives the squaring up andreleasing mechanism in timed relation with the rest of the machine whenoperating on certain sizes of envelopes. When operating on other sizesof envelopes the releasing and squaring up mechanism may beoperatedtwice as fast by moving the cluster gear 'so that the large gearmeshes with small gear 9. The cluster gear may be moved by means of thetongue on bracket 53 which is adjustable on shaft 54 by screw 55.

It will be apparent that the longitudinal position of rolls 9 may bevaried for different sizes of envelopes and that the lateral position ofrolls 23 may be varied for similar reasons or to give a diierent degreeof turn to the envelopes. A completely turned envelope is shown indotted lines at 56 in Figure l after having been squared up by iingers35 and released therefrom and after being engaged by pins 33 to carrythe envelope forward for the folding or other operation. It will beapparent that a positive feed of a frictional nature is given theenvelopes through the turning stati-on which may `be accommodated to anystyle or shape or size of envelope.

Various modifications may be made in the structure shown withoutdeparting from the invention.

What is claimed as new and is desired to be secured -by Letters Patentist 1. In an envelope machine, a sheet turning section comprising a pairof rolls and means to rotate them to continuously forward and turn thesheet in its own plane, means to feed a' sheet 4 thereto and to receivea sheet therefrom, said rolls being in substantial alignment and havingtheir axes parallel one with the other and with the plane of movement ofthe sheet, one roll having a forwarding speed greater than the other,and laterally adjustable mean-s, movable laterally to determine theangle of turn, bearing on the sheet opposite said rolls.

2. In an envelope machine, a sheet turning section comprising a pair ofcoaxial rolls parallel to the plane of sheet movement and means torotate them to continuously forward and turn the sheetnin its own plane,means to feed a sheet thereto and to receive a sheet therefrom, one ofIsaid rolls having a forwarding speed greater than the other, andlaterally adjustable means, movable laterally to determine the angle ofturn, bearing on the sheet opposite said rolls.

3. In an envelope machine, a sheet turning section comprising a pair ofconveyors and means for moving them at different forwarding speeds tosimultaneously move the sheet forward and turn the same in its own planeacting upon one facelof the sheet, means 'ao feed a 'sheet thereto andto receive it therefrom, and means movable transversely of the sheet onthe face opposite said conveyors to hold the sheet in contact with boththe conveyors, the transverse position of said means varying the degreeof turn given the sheets.

4. In an envelope machine, a sheet turning section comprising means toturn a sheet in its own plane, a substantially centrally located beltand means to hold a sheet in contact there with, said belt carrying asheet to and from said turning means, said turning means comprising apair of conveyors and means for moving them at different forwardingspeeds to simultaneously move the sheet forward and turn the same actingupon one face of the sheet and means movable transversely of the sheeton the opposite face thereof to hold the sheet in contact with bothy theconveyors, the transverse position of said means varying the degree ofturn given the 5. In an envelope machine, a sheet turning sectioncomprising means to turn a sheet in its own plane, means holding thesheet above and below forming a passage Way through which to pass asheet to the turning means, an adjacent travelling member to carry asheet through said way to the turning means, said turning means having apair of conveyors and means for moving them at different forwardingspeeds to simultaneously move the sheet forward and turn the same actingupon one face of the sheet and said travelling member passing betweensaid conveyors.

6. In an envelope machine, a sheet turning section comprising means toturn a sheet in its own plane, means holding the sheet'above and belowforming a passage way through which to pass a sheet tothe turning means,an adjacent travelling member to carry a sheet through said way to theturning means, said turning means having a pair of conveyors and meansfor moving them at different forwarding speeds to simultaneously movethe sheet forward and turn the same acting upon one face of the sheetand means movable transversely of the sheet on the opposite face thereofto hold the sheet in contact with the conveyors, the transverse positionof said means varying the degree of turn given the sheets,

7. In an envelope machine, a sheet turning section comprising means toturn. a sheet in its down plane, means holding the sheet above and belowforming passage ways through which to Dass a sheet to and from theturning means, an adjacent conveying member to move a sheet through saidways to and from the turning means, said turning means comprising a pairof conveyors and means for moving them at different forwarding speeds tosimultaneously move the sheet forward and turn the same acting upon oneface of the sheet, and means to hold the sheet in forward and turningrelation with the conveyors.

8. In an envelope machine, a sheet turning section adapted to receivepartially folded sheets from the envelope machine and to pass them onfor further operation after turning, means to hold the sheets folded asreceived from the envelope machine, means to turn the sheets in theirown plane, means to forward sheets to the turning means, said turningmeans comprising a pair of conveyors and means for moving them atdifferent forwarding speeds to simultaneously move the sheets forwardand turn the same acting upon one face of the sheets and means movabletransversely of the sheets on the opposite face thereof to hold thesheets in contact with the conveyors, the transverse position of saidmeans varying the degree of turn given the sheets.

9. In an envelope machine, a sheet turning device adapted to receivepartially folded sheets from the envelope machine and to pass them onfor further operation after turning, means to hold the sheets folded asreceived from the envelope machine, means to turn the sheets in theirown plane, means to forward sheets to the turning means, said turningmeans comprising a pair of conveyors and means for moving them atdifferent forwarding speeds to simultaneously move the sheets forwardand turn the same acting upon one face of the sheets, and means to holdthe sheets in forwarding and turning relation with the conveyors.

10. In an envelope machine, a sheet turning section comprising a pairconveyors and means for moving them at different forwarding speeds tosimultaneously move a sheet forward and turn the same in its own planeacting upon one face of the sheet, means to feed the sheet thereto andto receive the sheet therefrom, squaring up means extending in the pathof forward movement of the sheets and means to release said squaring upmeans and means movable transversely of the sheet on the opposite facethereof to hold the sheet in Contact with both the conveyors, thetransverse position of said means varying the degree of turn given thesheets.

11. In an envelope machine, a sheet turning device comprising a pair ofrolls and means to rotate them to continuously forward and turn thesheet in its own plane, means to feed a sheet thereto and to receive asheet therefrom, said rolls being in substantial alignment and havingtheir axes parallel one with the other and With the plane of movement ofthe sheet, one roll having a forwarding speed greater than the other andmeans, movable laterally to determine the angle of turn, bearing on thesheet opposite said rolls, squaring up means extending in the path offorward movementof the sheets and means to release said squaring upmeans.

JOHN L. OBERENDER.

